Kansas City’s Urban Ranger Corps is providing high school-aged boys with lessons of discipline and teamwork as they spend the summer serving their city.

The young men, a select few chosen from a pool of 500 applicants, saw their summertime adventure begin with calisthenics and having leaders bark orders at them. It’s part of an initial teambuilding orientation exercise before the real work of service begins.

Advertisement

“We have a team that mows lawns. We built some trails up in Camp Lake of the Woods in Swope Park,” said Urban Rangers Corps President Erik Dickinson. “(They) basically just learn to be better men.”

The work projects begin next week and extend into the school year.

The participants earn pay for their summer of work. They’re expected to volunteer for service projects during the school year.